Kitchen Counter Decor Ideas
4 min read
Kitchen counter decor ideas can transform a hardworking space into an inviting part of your family home. From cookbooks and wooden spoons passed down from relatives, to hand-etched glasses and hand-me-down glasses – thoughtful vignettes will elevate the design scheme without adding clutter.
Laminate countertops are easy to maintain and can mimic the look of stone or wood for any desired aesthetic. Be mindful that liquids seeping into porous areas could stain laminate, however.
Laminate
Laminate countertops had an unfavorable reputation years ago; thanks to technological developments they are now an affordable, durable option for kitchen counters. Lightweight yet sturdy enough for daily use and easy to keep clean – you’ll find laminate counters in many colors, patterns and textures from brands like Formica and Wilsonart; you’re bound to find something you like here!
Laminates are comprised of layers of resins, kraft paper and decoratively printed sheets. Through advanced printing technology, laminates can be produced that look exactly like natural materials like wood, granite, marble and metal.
Laminate countertops offer many advantages over other countertop materials. Installation is usually quick, and their low costs make them attractive options that won’t add as much to a home’s value than other materials do. Unfortunately, they’re more prone to chips than other options; hot pots or pans could easily damage them; hence why it is wiser to protect these counters with a backsplash than with anything else. They also resist staining better than most types of countertop material due to being nonporous compared with most types of other material used on most other countertops types!
Butcher Block
Butcher block kitchen counters provide an exciting alternative to the trendy all-white countertop trend. Crafted from sturdy wood, butcher block countertops offer the perfect surface for chopping vegetables and meats without scratching up their cutting boards or being stained in rich hues that reflect one’s kitchen design aesthetic.
Homeowners have three options when selecting butcher block countertops: edge grain, face grain and end grain. Edge grain surfaces feature wood planks glued together with the long edges facing upward, creating a light work surface showcasing its stunning grain pattern. Face grain countertops on the other hand offer more heavy-duty support and should be reserved for frequent heavy usage.
End grain butcher blocks are the strongest and most durable countertop materials, but also one of the more costly due to their labor intensive creation process. Like all countertop materials, butcher blocks must be periodically oiled with food-grade mineral oil to protect them from damage and maintain an appealing aesthetic.
Quartz
Quartz countertops are man-made surfaces designed for durability that come in various styles and colors, being impervious to staining and nonporous, meaning they are naturally bacteria resistant.
Quartz counters are extremely scratch-resistant, yet can still chip with hard impacts such as dropping hard objects on it or cutting something such as a deep fryer onto it. Also susceptible to heat damage; while quartz countertops can withstand brief exposure to high heat for some period of time without discoloring, prolonged exposure can discolor their binding resins over time and discoloring their binding resins permanently. Therefore it is advisable to use trivets when placing hot pots or pans directly onto its surface.
Quartz countertops are a popular choice among homeowners and designers, but you should do your research before making your choice. Some manufacturers provide their products through big-box stores while others only sell through kitchen and bath showrooms. Your chosen brand should provide samples so that you can see how it looks with your lighting setup and cabinet color scheme.
Marble
Marble countertops offer an elegant touch to their kitchens. Each slab varies in terms of color and veining patterns, creating unique countertops. In addition, it can be cut through a machining process so as to accommodate for any cabinet layout requirements.
Marble requires some special care, though. As it’s soft, it can easily be scratched by knives, pots and pans; and acidic liquids such as lemon juice or ketchup may stain and etch its surface, staining or etching its surface over time. Therefore, marble counters should be sealed periodically to protect them from further damage.
Marble remains popular with homeowners who appreciate its natural look and feel, often including scratches, etch marks and stains that add character. Some even find its imperfections charming; many refer to marble as “blue jeans” of counter materials as it shows wear from daily life in a home. Cultured marble provides another low maintenance alternative; cultured marble countertops consist of crushed marble combined with thermoplastic resin making them less porous than natural marble surfaces.
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